Transmission testing machine



July 20, 1965 G. R. REED TRANSMISSION TESTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 19615 Sheets-Sheet.

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FIG. 3

July 20, 1965 G. R; REED 3,

TRANSMISSION TESTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

July 20, 1965 G. R. REED 3,195,350

TRANSMISSION TESTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.5

FIG- 4 United States Patent 3,195,350 TRANSMISSIGN TESTING MACHINEGeorge Raymond Reed, Lamhertville, Mich, assignor to Dana Corporation,Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Virginia Filed duly 5, 1961, Ser. No.121,897 9 Claims. (Cl. 73-162) This invention relates to testingequipment in general, and more specifically to a testing machine of thelockedin torque type.

Prior art locked-in torque type dynamic testing machines, for testingcoupling devices, gears, transmission, and'the like, require the desiredlockeddn torsional load for the testing system to be locked in when thedevice is in a static condition. The device is tested dynamically forthe desired cycle period, and then must be stopped and brought to astatic condition before the load can be removed, varied, or reversed.The means provided for locking in the loads are normally difficult andtime consuming to operate. Also, because of this loading requirement,these devices do not allow a full program of testing wherein trueoperating conditions can be duplicated; for in true operation thetorsional load imposed upon a mechanism does not remain constant, but isconstantly varying and reversing as dictated by the operatingconditions.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a dynamictesting machine wherein torsional loads may be introduced while the unitis in operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dynamic testingmachine of the locked-in torque type wherein a torsional load may beimposed, varied or reversed while the unit is in operation.

- It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a testingmachine wherein the loads may be applied or reduced at variable rateswhile the unit is in operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a testingmachine which provides an easy and rapid method of applying a load.

a It is a still further object of this invention to provide a locked-intorque type testing machine which is easy to manufacture, simple tooperate, yet very durable and accurate.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following .detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a testing machine embodying thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view in section of the gear box containing the loadinggears;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, partially cut-away, of the gear boxcontaining the loading gears and a diagrammatic showing of the loadingmeans;

FIG. 4 is an end view in detail of the loading gear and shaft and themeans for moving said shaft taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are diagrammatic views showing the results of movingthe loading gear. FIG. 5 shows the loading gear in its neutral orunloaded condition; FIG. 6 shows the loading gear displaced upwardly andFIG. 7

shows the loading gear displaced downwardly.

The present invention contemplates a loading mechanism for a locked-intorque testing device whereby the locked-in torque may be varied orreversed while dynamically testing to duplicate operating conditions.The loading device comprises a gear box having disposed therein threeparallel shafts which in the unloaded condition are preferablyco-planar. Each shaft has a gear mounted thereon for rotation therewith;the gears on the outer two shafts each being in mesh with the gear onthe central or intermediate shaft. One of the outer shafts is rotatablymounted in said gear box while being fixedly positioned relativethereto. This shaft is considered the driving shaft and is furnishedwith a suitable source of rotative power. The output end of this shaftis coupled by universal means to a double right angle drivingarrangement. The double right angle driving arrangement is furthercoupled by universal means to the other outer shaft in the gear boxwhich shall be called the driven shaft. This other outer shaft or drivenshaft is rotatably mounted relative to the gear box and also mounted foruni-planar movement relative to the driving shaft. The central shaft,herein referred to as the loading shaft, is also rotatably mountedwithin the gear box and is also movable relative thereto in a planeperpen dicular to the plane defined by the outer shafts. Thus, it isapparent that torque which is imposed on the driving 'gear istransferred through a closed system defined by the gears, the universalcouplings and the double right. angle drive. It is also apparent thatthe driving and driven gears will be rotated in the same direction inresponse to rotational input load.

Novel means have been provided for locking a torsional load into thisclosed system. This means includes the central or loading gear, which byits movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane determined by thedrive and driven gears forces these gears to rotate in oppositedirections. This opposite movement of the drive and driven gears inducesa torqu load into the system. The movement of the loading shaft isaccomplished by power means attached to it, which power means can movethe shaft even when the unit is operating.

nism, the gear box of which is shown generally at It comprises a drivingshaft 12, a loading shaft 14 and a driven shaft 16. Mounted on eachshaft for rotation therewith is a gear; more specifically, on drivingshaft 12 is driving gear 18, on loading shaft 14 is loading gear Zthandon driven shaft 16 is driven gear 22. The driving shaft 12 is driven bya suitable multiple speed transmission 24 which in turn is driven by asuitable variable speed power source 26.

Any well known coupling means 28, having universal connections 29 and 36provided therein, connects the driving shaft 12 with the first rightangle drive unit 32.

The right angle drive 32 consists of an input shaft 34 mounted bybearings 36 in a gear case shown fragmentarily at 37. Mounted on theshaft 34 for rotation therewith is a ring gear 38 which is in mesh witha pinion gear 40. The pinion gear 49 is also mounted for rotation in thegear case 37 by a bearing 42.

A second right angle drive unit 44 is drivingly connected to the firstright angle drive unit 32. More particularly, a pinion 46 is coupled tothe pinion 40 by a suitable coupling means shown generally at 48. The

pinion 46 is in mesh with a ring gear 5t) which is mounted on shaft 52for rotation therewith. The pinion 46 is mounted for rotation by abearing 54 in the second right angle drive gear case shown fragmentarilyat 56, and the shaft 52 is supported by bearings 58 in the case 56.

vThe shaft 52 is coupled to the driven shaft 16 by a second couplingmeans shown generally at 60 which includes universal joint connections61 and 62. Incorporated in the coupling 6% is a torsion meter 64 of anywell known type which is'connected to a suitable strain indicating meter66. The combination of the torsion meter ,and the indicating meterenables the operator to easily determine the amount of torsional loadpresent in the system.

The system as arranged can be used to test either. the

right angle drive units or the coupling means.

Connecting the driving shaft 12 and the loading-shaft 14 are a pair ofconnecting rods 68 and 69 one on each axial side=of the gears 18 and 20.Connecting the driven shaft 16 and'the loading shaft 14. are a secondpair of connecting rods 70 and-71 one on either side of the gears 20 and22. These connecting rods assure that/the center distance between theshafts 12 and 14 and between the are fixedly positioned in the boxltl'by bolt-on bearing caps 73. As viewed in the drawing the right endof the shaft 12 has a flange 74 mounted thereon, as by a splinedengagement shown generally at 76,for rotation therewith. The flange 74isfixedly secured to the shaft 12 by means of a bolt 78 and a suitablecooperating washer 80. The

left end of the shaft 12 has a flange 82 attached thereon in a mannersimilar to that of flange 74. The flange 74 serves as a coupling pointfor the input power from the transmission 24 and the flange 82 serves asthecoupling point for coupling means 28.

The driven shaft 16 is rotatably mounted in bearings 84, one provided ateach endthereof. The shaft 16 has a pair of shoulders 87 and 88 providedthereon against which theinward edge of each bearing 84 abutsto limitthe inward movement thereof. The bearings 84 are each further receivedin a bearing cap or cover 86. The hearing covers 86 are each providedwith a shoulder 90 which 4 i abuttingly engages the outer edge of thebearings 84 and prevents the outward movement thereof. The covers 86 aremovingly positioned in the gear case 10. More specifically, the case isprovided with a pair of algined openings 94 into which a portion of thecovers 86 ex tends. I

A spacing bushing 96 is positioned in'each opening 94.

Each bushing 96 has a flange 98 thereon which extends beyond the opening94 andengages the case 10. The

bushings are provided with a rectangular opening 97 for receiving thebearing cap 86. A plurality of pins 100 or other suitable connectingmeans fixedly connect the flange 98 of the bushing 96 with the case 1t).A flange 92 provided on each bearing cap 86 extends externally of thecase 10 and overlaps the bushing 96 and is in sliding engagei V .menttherewith. The bearing cap 86 extends into the case,

and has a rectangular boss 102 provided thereon, the shape of which isclearly shown in FIG. 3. The boss is of approximately the same thicknessas the'bushing 96. An

annular plate .104, having an opening 106 of suflicient size toaccommodate the driven shaft'16, is fixedly attached to the boss 102 andslidingly engages theinner side of the bushing 96. A fixed attachmentbetween the plate 104 and the boss 162 is provided by a plurality ofbolts 1 108 which extend through aligned openings provided therein.Since the flange 92 and the plate 104 of the hearing cover 86 are'merelyin sliding engagementwith the bushing 96, relative motion may take placetherebetween. The opening in bushing 96 being rectangular and the boss-162 also being rectangular, but of a smaller dimension in a horizontaldirection as clearly shown in FIG. 3, provide In the vertical directionthere is no space between the bushing 96 and the boss 162 and these twomembers are in sliding engage.

a clearance 110 on both sides of the boss.

merit in this location. Therefore, it is apparent that the cover 86 mayonly move horizontallyrelative to the bush- 4: ing 96 and the case ltlwhile being held from vertical movement and thus the shaft 16 may moverelative to the shaft 12 in a uni-planar relationship. A flange 83 ismounted on the left end of shaft 16 by a spline engagernent showngenerally at 76 and fixedly positioned thereon by a bolt'78 andwasherstla This fiange83 provides a means for mounting the couplingmeans 66 to shaft 16.

Theloading shaft 14 is suspended within the case 10 by means of theconnecting rods 68, 69, 76 and 71. More particularly, the connectingrods 70 and 71 are pivotally mounted on the shaft 16 and havinginterposed therebetween bearings 112 and 114 respectively, so that theshaft 16 may rotate relative to the connecting rods and further so thatthe. connecting rods may pivot relative to the shaft 16. The shaft 14 issimilarly mounted for rotation in the other end of, rods 70 and 71 bymeans of bearings 111 and 113 respectively. Furthermore, the loadingshaft 14 is suspendedrelative to the driving shaft 12 by means ofconnecting rods 68 and-69. The rods'68 and 69 are pivotally mountedonthe shaft 12 and have bearings 116 and 118 respectivelyinterposedtherebetween so that the shaft 12 may rotate relative to therods 68 and69 and further so that the rodsmay pivotrelative to the shaft. The shaft14 is similarly mounted for rotation in the other endsof rods 68 and 69by means of bearings and 117 respectively. The bearings 111, 113, 115and 117 are pressed on theshaft 14 and abut against shoulders 119thereonand washers 121, held onthe ends of. shaft 14 by bolts 123,10vsecurely positionthe bearings.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the loading shaft 14 and the gear20 carried thereby may move perpendicularly relative to the planedefinedby the shafts 12 and 16; that the shaft 12 is fixedly positioned, exceptfor rotative movement, relative to the case 10; and that the shaft 16may move relative to the case 10 and the other two shafts 12 and 14while remaining withintheplane originally defined. by the shafts 12 and16. Since the shafts are interconnected bythe connecting rods, when theshaft 14 moves perpendicularly to the plane defined by the drive anddriven shafts-12 and 16,'the shaft 16 will move closer to the shaft 12,and the distance between the shafts 12 and 14 and between the shafts 14and 16 will remain constant, thus assuring that the gears 18 and 20 and2t) and 22 will remain in a proper meshing relationship and that drivingtorquefrom the'gear 18 can be transferred'by means of the intermediateor loading gear20 to the drivengear 22.

Referring now .more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, means is provided formoving the loading shaft 14 in a direction perpendicular to the plane ofthe outer two shafts 12 and 16. More particularly, the connecting rods70 and ,71 each have a boss 120 providedthereon adjacent the location ofbearings 111 and 113." A yoke 122 with lugs 127 and 124 providedthereon, which lugs each surround one of the bosses 120,'is pivotallyconnected to the bosses by means of pivot pins 125. Extending upwardlyfrornithe yoke 122 is the power shaft 126 which extends into a two-waypower cylinder shown generally at 128. As seen in FIG..4 the powercylinder 1281's provided with a pair of upwardly extending projections130 which are pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 132 to aT-s'haped mounting member 134. The mounting member 134 is fixedlyattached as by bolts 136 to a cross brace 138. The cross brace 138 isfixedly attached to the upright braces 140 as by bolts 142. The uprightbraces 140 are in turn fixedly attached one oneach side of the case 10.These braces firmly support and position the power cylinder 128'relative to case 10 and the gears contained therein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, where the power cylinder 128 is showndiagrammatically so that its operation may be clearly explained, apiston 144 is disposed within the power cylinder and is securedlyconnected to the shaft 126. A source'of fluidv pressure represented bythe pump 146, is provided to supply fluid=to the power cylinder. Eitherliquid or gas. fluid may be used; however, in this preferred embodimentit has been found that gas pressure gives more satisfactory results. Amanifold line 148 extends from the pump and branches into two inletlines 158 and 152; inlet line 150 extends into the upper portion of thepower cylinder 128 and inlet line 152 extends into the lowerportion ofpower cylinder 128. A pair of exhaust lines 154 and 156 are provided toexhaust the upper and lower portions of the power cylinder 128. Thelines 150, 152, 154 and 156 are supplied with shut-off valves 158, 160,162 and 164 respectively.

In operation with both exhaust valves open and both inlet valves closed,the power cylinder will take a neutral position as the result of therelease of torsional load within the closed system of the testingmachine. If it is desired to move the loading shaft 14 upwardly, theinlet valve 160 is opened and the outlet valve 164 is closed, andpressure from the pump 146 is supplied through line 148, 152 and intothe lower portion of the power cylinder 128. Pressure regulators 166 and168 are supplied in inlet lines 150 and 152, and the desired pressuremay be maintained within the power cylinder to give the desired load onthe strain indicating meter 66. The pressure is regulated at a valuethat gives the desired torsional load which is locked into the systemuntil the pressure is varied or removed. If it is desired to move theloading shaft 14downwardly, the valves 152 and 154 are closed, andvalves 156 and 158 are opened, so that fluid passes from the pumpthrough line 148, line 150 and into the upper portion of the powercylinder 128, which results in downward movement of the piston 144,shaft 126, yoke 122, and shaft 14.

By closing either of the inlet valves 158 or 160, depending on whichpart of the pressure cylinder is charged, the charge within that portionof the cylinder will remain constant. By opening the proper outlet valve162 or 164-, the pressure within the power cylinder may be bled-off andthe load slowly reduced. By proper manipulation of the various controlmeans the load may be varied, reversed, or reduced slowly to duplicatethe operating con- 'ditions on the element being tested.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 diagrammatically show the inducement of loads into thedrive and driven gears 18 and 22 by movement of the loading gear 20;while the gears are shown as driving in the direction of the arrows Dtheir direction may be reversed. In FIG. 5 the gears are all co-planarand no load is present in the system. In FIG. 6 the loading gear 20 hasbeen moved upwardly thereby loadingly rotating the gears 22 and 18relative to the gear 20 in the directions of the arrows L. It isapparent that the relative loading rotation of gears 18 and 22 is inopposite directions, and since normally these two gears in operation aredrivingly rotated in the same direction, the opposite loading rotationinduces a torsional load in the system. FIG. 7 shows the result ofmoving the loading gear 20 downwardly thereby loadingly rotating thegears 18 and 22 in the direction of the arrows L which is in theopposite direction of the loading rotation shown by the arrows L in FIG.6 thereby demonstrating that the torsional load can be induced into thesystem in a reverse direction.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a testing machine has beendescribed which will allow torsional loads to be introduced into thesystem while the unit is in driving operation, that will allow alocked-in torque type load to be imposed, varied or reversed while theunit is in operation, that will allow such loads to be applied orreduced at variable rates, which provides an easy and rapid method oflocking in a load, and which is easy to manufacture, simple to operate,yet very durable and accurate.

The preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described,but changes and modifications can be made, and it is understood thatthis description is illustrative only and not for the purpose ofrendering this invention limited to the details illustrated or describedexcept insofar as they have been limited by the terms of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is: p

1. In a testing machine of the locked-in torque type defining a closedsystem, a loading device in the system comprising in combination, anintermediate rotatable means having a central axis of rotation, a firstand a second outer rotatable means each having a central axis ofrotation and each drivingly connected to said intermediate rotatablemeans, means maintaining the axes of said outer rotatable means in asingle plane, said first and second outer rotatable means being adaptedto rotate about their axes in the same direction when operativelytransmitting torque in the closed system, means for moving saidintermediate rotatable means toward and away from the plane defined bysaid outer rotatable means during rotation thereof whereby said outerrotatable means will be rotated oppositely relative to each otherthereby causing a change in the torsional load in the system.'

2. A testing machine of the locked-in torque type defining a closedsystem comprising in combination, a first and a second outer shaft,means maintaining said shafts in a single plane, coupling means,including the device to be tested, joining said outer shafts forrotation in the same direction to transmit torque through the system, anintermediate loading shaft, gear means on said shafts drivinglyconnecting said intermediate shaft to each of said outer shafts forrotation in a direction opposite thereto to transmit torque through thesystem, said intermediate loading shaft being movable toward and awayfrom the plane defined by said outer shafts, whereby said outer shaftswill be rotated oppositely relative to each other thereby causing achange in the torsional load locked into the system.

3. A testing machine of the locked-in torque type defining a closedsystem comprising in combination, a first and a second outer shaft,means maintaining said shafts in a single plane, coupling means,including the device to be tested, joining said outer shafts forrotation in the same direction, an intermediate loading shaft, gearmeans on said shafts drivingly connecting said intermediate shaft toeach of said outer shafts for rotation in a direction opposite thereto,a plurality of rods pivotally connecting said outer shafts to saidintermediate loading shaft for maintaining said gear means in drivingrelationship upon relative movement of said shafts, and means for movingsaid intermediate shaft normal to the plane defined by said outer shaftswhereby said outer shafts will be rotated oppositely relative to eachother thereby causing a change in the torsional load locked into thesystem.

4. A testing machine of the locked-in torque type defining a closedsystem comprising in combination, a first and a second outer shaft eachhaving gear means rotatable therewith, means maintaining said shafts ina single plane, coupling means, including the device to be tested,joining said outer shafts for rotation in the same direction, anintermediate loading shaft co-planar with said outer shafts when thetesting machine is not loaded and having gear means rotatable therewithin mesh with the gear means of said outer shafts, said intermediateshaft being rotated oppositely relative to said outer shafts when saidsystem is operating, means for maintaining a constant distance betweenthe intermediate shaft and each of the outer shafts, and means formoving said intermediate shaft from its co-planar relationship with theouter shafts while said outer shafts are rotating in the same directionwhereby said outer shafts will be rotated oppositely relative to eachother inducing a torsional load to the system.

5. A testing machine of the locked-in torque type defining a closedsystem comprising in combination, a gear box, a driving shaft rotatablymounted in said gear box and fixedly positioned relative thereto, saiddriving shaft being adapted to be driven by a source of rotative power,a driven shaft rotatably mounted in said gear box and movably positionedtherein in uni-planar relationship relative to said driving shaft, adouble right angle drive unit, a first coupling means joining saiddriving shaft to the input of said double right angle drive unit, asecond coupling means joining said driven shaft to the outputof saiddouble right angle 'drive unit whereby said driving and driven shaftsrotate in the same direction, a loading shaft rotatably and'movablydisposed in" said gear case intermediatesaid driving and driven-shafts,-said shafts being parallel and in uni-planar relationship whenthe system is not loaded, gear means mounted on each of said shafts forrotation therewith, with the gear means on the loading shaft being inmesh with said gear means on said driving and driven shaft therebyforming a closed system, means maintaining said loading shaftat aconstant dis tance relative to said driving shaftfand to said drivenshaft maintaining said gear means in driving relationship, controllablepower means for moving said loading shaft'from its uni-planarposition relative to said driving and driven shafts causing said drivingand driven shafts to rotate relative to eachother whereby the torsionalload in the closed system .is changed, "and means incorporated in saidsys tem for measuring the amount of torsional load therein.

6. A loading device for a locked-in torque testing machine wherein amechanism for transmitting rotary motion and having an input and anoutput means is to be tested and wherein the input and output means areconnected by driving means to said loadingdevice to form a closed systemand including power means operative to supply rotative drive to theclosed system comprising in combination, a firstand a second outerrotatable means each having a central axis and each being rotatedaboutlits' axis in the same direction when said system is beingrotatively driven, one of said outer rotatable means beingdrivinglyconnected to and rotatable with the input means of saidmechanism, the other of said outer rotatable means being drivinglyconnected to and rotatablewith the output means of said mechanism, anintermediate rotatable means having and being rotatt a able about acentralaxis, means drivingly connecting said intermediate rotatablemeans to eachof .said outer rotatable means for rotating oppositelyrelative thereto whereby said'outer rotatable means trotatably drivessaid intermediate rotatable means ina direction .opposite to thedirection of rotation of said outer rotatable means when said systemisbeing rotatively .driven, and means for moving the central axis of oneof said rotatable means toward and away from the vplanedefined by theaxes of said outer rotatable means and rotating said outer rotatablemeans oppositely relative to eachother whereby the level oftorsionalload in the closed system is changed.

'7. A leading device according to claim 6 wherein said rotatable meansare shafts, said means drivingly .connecting said shafts is a pluralityof gears with one gear of said plurality of gears drivingly connected toeach shaft, and wherein'each. of said outer shaft gears are meshed withsaid intermediate shaft gear.

8. A'loading device according to claim 7 wherein means maintain thecentral axes of said outer gears in 'a single plane and whereinsaidloading means moves said intermediate gear relative to said outer gears'50 that the central axis thereof moves toward and away from the planedefined by thetcentral axes of said outer gears to rotate saidoutergears oppositely relative to each other.

9. A loading device according to claim 8 including means maintaining aconstant distance between the axis of each of said outer gears andthetaxis of said innergear.

References Cited theExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,157,903 5/39'Lapsley 73'-l62 X 2,371,607 3/45 Collins 73l62 X 2,712,756 V 7/55 Greeret al.- 73l62 X 2,981,103 4/61 Livezey '73 .-l62

YRICHLARD-C. QUEISSER'Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L; EVANS, JOSEPH P. 'STRIZAK, Examiners.

4. A TESTING MACHINE OF THE LOCKED-IN TORQUE TYPE DEFINING A CLOSEDSYSTEM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A FIRST AND A SECOND OUTER SHAFT EACHHAVING GEAR MEANS ROTATABLE THEREWITH, MEANS MAINTAINING SAID SHAFTS INA SINGLE PLANE, COUPLING MEANS, INCLUDING THE DEVICE TO BE TESTED,JOINING SAID OUTER SHAFTS, FOR ROTATION IN THE SAME DIRECTION, ANINTERMEDIATE LOATING SHAFT CO-PLANAR WITH SAID OUTER SHAFTS WHEN THETESTING MACHINE IS NOT LOADED AND HAVING GEAR MEANS ROTATABLE THEREWITHIN MESH WITH THE GEAR MEANS OF SAID OUTER SHAFTS, SAID INTERMEDIATESHAFT BEING ROTATED OPPOSITELY RELATIVE TO SAID OUTER SHAFTS WHEN SAIDSYSTEM IS OPERATING, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING A CONSTANT DISTANCE BETWEENTHE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND EACH OF THE OUTER SHAFTS, AND MEANS FORMOVING SAID INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM ITS CO-PLANAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEOUTER SHAFTS WHILE SAID OUTER SHAFTS ARE ROTATING IN THE SAME DIRECTIONWHEREBY SAID OUTER SHAFTS WILL BE ROTATED OPPOSITELY RELATIVE TO EACHOTHER INDUCING A TORSIONAL LOAD TO THE SYSTEM.